Duke University Scientists Create Brain Implant That May Enable Communication through Thoughts Alone
A groundbreaking collaboration between Duke neuroscientists, neurosurgeons, and engineers has resulted in the design of a cutting-edge speech prosthetic with the capability to translate brain signals into coherent speech. This advanced technology offers new hope for individuals facing communication challenges due to neurological disorders, providing a promising path through brain-computer interfaces.
The development of this speech prosthetic represents a vital breakthrough for people battling conditions such as ALS or locked-in syndrome. Currently, traditional communication tools are often slow and cumbersome, operating at a pace that is only half the speed of normal audiobook speech, which is approximately 78 words per minute. In contrast, the average human speech rate is about 150 words per minute. This limitation is partly due to the scarcity of brain activity sensors that can be integrated into an ultra-thin material placed on the brain’s surface.
To address this challenge, neurology professor Gregory Cogan, PhD, in collaboration with Jonathan Viventi, PhD, and his team, succeeded in incorporating 256 minuscule brain sensors onto a postage stamp-sized, medical-grade plastic substrate. This high-density of sensors allows for the discernment of signals from neighboring brain cells, which is crucial for accurately predicting intended speech.
Further tests on four patients involved temporarily implanting the device in individuals undergoing brain surgery for other conditions. During these tests, the participants were engaged in a listen-and-repeat activity, where they heard and then spoke a series of nonsense words. The device recorded activity from the patients’ speech motor cortex and processed the neural and speech data using a machine learning algorithm.
The preliminary results of these tests showed an 84% accuracy for predicting sounds produced based solely on the brain activity recordings. The team is now focused on developing a cordless version of the device with a $2.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.
While this groundbreaking technology holds significant potential, it is essential to acknowledge that there is still progress to be made for it to become widely accessible. Nevertheless, there is optimism for the future as the technology advances. The findings of this study were published in the journal Nature Communications, signaling the recognition of the potential impact of this innovative speech prosthetic.
Overall, this collaborative innovation at Duke University opens up new possibilities for individuals with neurological disorders, demonstrating the power of interdisciplinary teamwork between neuroscientists, neurosurgeons, and engineers.
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